U.S. Navy Awards Raytheon $22.9 Billion Contract to Boost Tomahawk Missile Production
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy has awarded Raytheon, an RTX business, a $22.9 billion contract to increase production of Tomahawk cruise missiles, the Navy announced Monday.
The major defense contract is intended to expand the United States’ supply of long-range precision weapons as military operations and arms deliveries to allies place growing pressure on American munitions inventories.
U.S. Navy Moves to Expand Tomahawk Output
Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao said the department is working with defense manufacturers to expand the capacity of the U.S. munitions industrial base and meet the requirements of current operations.
The Navy did not immediately disclose how many additional Tomahawk missiles will be produced under the contract or how long the award will remain in effect.
Raytheon to Increase Missile Production
Raytheon is the primary manufacturer of the Tomahawk, a long-range cruise missile designed to strike land targets with precision. Tomahawks can be launched from U.S. Navy surface ships and submarines, while land-based versions provide similar long-range strike capability to ground forces.
The contract follows earlier agreements between the U.S. government and Raytheon aimed at sharply increasing production capacity for Tomahawk missiles and other critical weapons systems.
Weapons Inventories Under Pressure
The United States has supplied significant quantities of weapons to allies while also using precision-guided munitions in current military operations. Those demands have intensified concerns about the size of U.S. stockpiles and the defense industry’s ability to replace weapons quickly.
The new $22.9 billion award represents one of the most significant recent investments in expanding American missile production and strengthening the country’s defense manufacturing base.
